Hancock has two hits, smacks 10th home run of the season in win over Gamecocks
STARKVILLE – The No. 3 Mississippi State baseball program won its final regular season home game over Jacksonville State, 6-1, on Tuesday (May 18) night at Dudy Noble Field in a rain-shortened contest.
Mississippi State (36-13) scored two runs each in the first, second and third innings, while Jacksonville State (24-25) scored its lone run in the top of the fourth. Due to inclement weather, game play was cancelled following the top of the fifth inning. It marked the second perfect midweek slate in head coach Chris Lemonis’ tenure and the Diamond Dawgs improved to 29-1 overall under Lemonis is midweek games.
Offensively, Luke Hancock posted his 14 multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 night at the plate. He drove in the first two runs of the game with his 10th home run of the season, and it marked the first time in his career he hit home runs in back-to-back games.
A pair of streaks continued on Tuesday night, as Tanner Allen moved his hitting streak to 13 games and reached base streak to 16 games with a single and a walk. Rowdey Jordan’s second inning single pushed his reached base streak to 35 games.
Parker Stinnett (1-0) made his first career start on the mound and tossed two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Jackson Fristoe also entered the game to pitch a scoreless inning with one strikeout and Spencer Price struck out the only batter he faced.
For Jacksonville State, Camden Lovrich (1-1) took the loss with two runs allowed on one hit and one walk in one inning of work. Trevor Andrews and Cole Frederick each had hits in the game, with Andrews scoring on a Frederick RBI single in the fourth.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On Parker Stinnett’s start
CL: We wanted to give Parker a chance to finish his own innings. He’s been a starter most of his life. He’s got one of the better arms on our staff. We’ve been trying to get him out there, get him comfortable and get some innings under him. Lately, it feels like every time we put him in, there are runners in scoring position and the game is on the line. I was pleased with him, and I was happy with the way our guys came out and responded.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Tanner Allen walked and scored on Luke Hancock’s two-run home run to right field.
Mississippi State 2, Jacksonville State 0
Bottom Second
Brad Cumbest and Kellum Clark walked and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch before scoring on Rowdey Jordan’s single.
Mississippi State 4, Jacksonville State 0
Bottom Third
Hancock singled, Logan Tanner walked and Scotty Dubrule bunted to load the bases before Hancock scored on a sacrifice fly. A double down the left field line by Lane Forsythe plated Tanner.
Mississippi State 6, Jacksonville State 0
Top Fourth
Trevor Andrews doubled to left field and scored on Cole Frederick’s base hit.
Mississippi State 6, Jacksonville State 1
Up Next
Mississippi State travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a three-game series with Alabama starting on Thursday, May 20 at 6 p.m. Each of the three games will be carried on SEC Network+ and the Mississippi State Radio Network.